Cambodia welcomes home 10th century statue of a Hindu god that was stolen during civil war

This undated photo provided by The Cleveland Museum of Art shows the statue of Hanuman, the Hindu monkey god, in Cleveland. The Cleveland Museum of Art returned the 10th-century statue to Cambodia after it uncovered evidence the sculpture was probably looted during the country's civil war. (The Cleveland Museum of Art via AP) (The Associated Press)

A 10th century Cambodian sandstone statue is placed inside the Council Ministry during a ceremony in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Tuesday, May 12, 2015. The Cleveland Museum of Art on Tuesday handed over a 10th-century statue to Cambodia after it uncovered evidence the sculpture was probably looted during the country's civil war. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith) (The Associated Press)

Director of the Cleveland Museum of Art William M. Griswold places a garland on a 10th century Cambodian sandstone statue during a ceremony in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Tuesday, May 12, 2015. The Cleveland Museum of Art on Tuesday handed over a 10th-century statue to Cambodia after it uncovered evidence the sculpture was probably looted during the country's civil war. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith) (The Associated Press)

Cambodia has welcomed home a 1,000-year-old stone statue of a Hindu god that was looted from a temple during the country's civil war and spent the past three decades at an American museum.

The sculpture of Hanuman, a Hindu monkey god, was formally handed over Tuesday at a ceremony in Phnom Penh attended by government officials and the director of the Cleveland Museum of Arts, which acquired it in 1982.

Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister Sok An praised the museum's initiative in returning the statue and called on "the world to follow the example of returning plundered treasures."

The Hanuman is the sixth ancient "blood antiquity" returned to Cambodia in recent years. Others have come from The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Sotheby's and Christie's auction houses and the Norton Simon Museum.